User Reviews

Purchased this 2008 bottle, looking in very good condition, today: surprising to see a bunch of these 5.5 year old bottles on the shelf. I'd guess a case got lost for several years.
Still OK? ... a solid seal, decent looks and good flavor all indicate yes.

Poured into goblet, this ale is a dark brown color with ruby-brown highlights when held to the light. The tan head soon recedes to a durable full ring that leaves the glass nicely coated upon tipping.

Aroma: not good at first [2.75], but after just a few minutes it emits a fine aroma [4] of toffee, nuts, light spices and some bready notes. Complex and continues to change as it warms.

Taste: more fruity and less nutty than the aroma. lightly bitter; dates, raisins and other dark fruits, medium and dark malts, a touch of herbal hops, and a bit of dark chocolate. A trace of smoke and coffee in the finish and aftertaste. Enjoyed the bitersweet, fruity flavor more and more.

Feel: full bodied; very smooth; soft, light carbonation. The alcohol is fairly well hidden with a wild mix of bitterness to roasty malt flavors.

Overall: worth returning to the store to get more of their aged and discounted bottles.

Pours a cola brown color with some chunky yeast flakes, dense tan colored yet, not very big, settles into a solid ring. The aroma is quite fruity, big on the boozy grapes and prunes, perhaps a touch of figs. The aroma matches more to a BSDA/Quad than that of a dubbel. The aroma is fruity with the dark grapes and prunes which is counter-balanced with a light roasted malt similiar to what you would find in a schwarzbier. The flavors are quite clean, there seems to be a touch of spice in the end which I can't quite place. Moderate body with plenty of fizzy fizzy carbontion, quite carbonated. Finishes crisp due to the carbonation, almost burns a bit. I could see this brew being a bit syrupy or heavy without the carbonation so it is a welcomed addition. A tasty brew, not what I was expecting but I should have read the bottle more closely. Not sure if this is what I would consider a dubbel, more BSDA/Quad. Though from 2008, this sucker aged well and could probably age for a few more years with all of the carboation.

Danish holiday ale 2008 vintage, consumed 3/10. Each year is made from a different recipe. This one is based on a Belgium Abbey Ale Style, brewed with noble pacific gem hops from New Zealand (which I am completely unfamiliar with). 7.5%abv.

A: Poured a muddled mahogany with an almond colored head that never rose above 1 finger and was quick to dissipate. An active fizzy capping suggested a strong carbonation which offered some glimpses along the glass edges. Also present were micro-size bran colored yeasty matter that danced up and down from the excitement of the effervesce before slowly settling on the bottom of the glass.

S: The nose was light in strength offering a cola spiciness mixed in with some dark wild berries. Unfortunately there wasn't much else to go on here and made you work to get a good appreciation of its limited appeal.

T: The initial flavor had a slight dry booziness combined with dark caramel grains which gave it a dark raisiny character along with some licorice. A dry vinous nature with a dried sweetness of molasses, dark cherries is also noticeable. Spicy dark fruit of plums adds a splash of sweet juiciness and sweetness while a balance of berries offer up a subtle tartness. The flavor and booziness is well toned and smooth providing for a smooth finish with just enough of spiciness to jazz things up a bit. What I liked about this was how it lets its natural flavors of fermentation and dark caramel contribute and come through while not loading this up artificially with added spices from the rack. There is a bit of fresh roastiness that comes through on the finishing swallow while a light Belgian yeastiness does come through with notes of peardrop and applepeels.

M: The mouthful is oily, very slick with a medium fullness. There is as well some noticeable carbonation but doesn't add nor subtract form the experience.

D: A naturally flavored holiday ale with flavors of dark caramelized sweetness and a warming booziness. At $8 a pound this came off as a fairly enjoyable sipper and perfect for the breaking of weather into spring. Since this recipe changes yearly I cannot comment or recommend on other vintages but this one is certainly worthy and ages pretty good as well. My favorite style is also a dubbel so take it for what its worth.

Poured a medium to deeper brown color with a larger sized off white head. Some larger particles in there. Aromas of chocolate, roast, some spiciness, and yeast. Tastes of chocolate, dark fruits, lighter yeast, spices, and caramel.

A: The beer poured very dark brown in color with a small head that dissipated quickly. There are some yeast particles floating near the bottom.
S: There is a light aroma of dark fruits and spices in the nose.
T: The overall taste is very fruity and spicy with a moderate amount of sweetness. There are also some notes of roasted malts.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate with a little bit of dryness. Not much carbonation is noticeable, which makes it also feel somewhat thin.
D: The beer is very easy to drink, it's neither strong nor filling, but there are a good amount of flavors.

Thanks to Eric for the chance to try this brew. Review from notes taken 1/2/11.

Poured into a sniffer this brew appears a dark brown color with ruby clarity showing through the edges. A dark creamy tan head forms a finger strong and recedes to a thin layering across the top. Some spotty lace clings to the glass.

The aroma of this brew smells of spicy alcohol and fruits along with an indication of licorice. Lots of bready notes fill the nose along with mild herbal hops. As it warms, the malt takes on some chocolate character.

The taste of this brew is quite bitter with herbal hops, alcohol and a solid amount of bready malt that comes across a little musty. A bit of chocolate flavoring mixes with licorice and a drying sense of alcohol. It leaves an aftertaste of bitterness mixed with dark malt roastiness.

The is a medium to light in the feel offering with a modest to light level of carbonation. The alcohol is fairly well hidden with a wild mix of bitterness to roasty malt flavors. Overall not bad but not something I would go out of my way for.

From 11/27/11 notes. Thanks to nimbleprop for sharing this one. I believe it was recently picked up off the shelf in New York. Poured into a tulip.

a - Pours a dark mahogany brown color with one inch of off white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of roasted malts, chocolate, sweet dark fruits, light alcohol, light smoke. Aside from the fruit, not getting a not of dubbel-like qualities in the nose.

t - Tasted of sweet dark fruits, bready malts, raisins, sweet figs, and light spices. A step up from the nose, but still quite sweet.

m - Medium to full body and moderate carbonation.

o - Overall a pretty average Dubbel. The nose had some interesting notes to it I don't normally associate with a dubbel, while the taste was more traditional (though on the sweet side). Probably wouldn't seek it out again.

Yes I know I'm reviewing a beer that was produced 7 years ago but I found a 16.9 oz bottle on a bargain table...

Medium walnut color thin wispy white head. Not very aromatic possibly due to age: nutty not malty. Not strongly hoppy mildly fruity, spicy, herbal not bitter. Herbal nutty after taste. Alcohol is not apparent very subdued for a Dubbel... Rich feel not watery. Overall pleasant but mild not distinctive possibly age has muted the aroma & taste.

T: Good sweet, robust dark malts and brown sugar with a tinge of molasses in the first rush of sweetness. Becomes a tad more bitter and cocoa-like towards the middle to end of the brew, which finishes with a chalky, sweet roasted bitterness. Some herbal and floral flavors noted throughout, with bits of alcohol sting popping up at random.

M: Full-bodied, sweet and somewhat flat to the taste. Pretty creamy and smooth all around, but filling for an apertif.

D: Not a bad dessert beer, just not one I'd generally categorize as a Belgian dubbel, in my novice tasting experience. I'm missing those dark, sugary, fruity and complex malt characteristics, and instead am getting a slightly boozy, Belgian porter-esque vibe from this brew.

A: Pours a dark brown with some ruby highlights on the edges, capped by one finger of tan head. Retention is non-existent as it dissipates almost instantly, leaving a bit of lacing in its wake.

S: Nose is somewhat subdued, but dark fruits and winter spices are predominant. Cinnamon, lots of nutmeg, and a bit of vanilla on the spice side. Not much going on.

T: A bit more going on than the nose, as the fruit gained some complexity - dark cherries, figs, plums, and a berry character all come through, before giving way to the same winter spices as the nose. Some caramel backbone shows through along with some booziness, leading to a sweet and slightly hot finish.

M: Rather thin and somewhat overcarbonated, prickles the tongue a bit too much for what it is.

D: Between the subpar mouthfeel and alcoholic heat, this isn't a particularly drinkable beer.

Thanks to Dyan for this vintage offering. Why does everyone keep sending me Christmas beer? Served in a plastic cup.

A - There's a quick-dissolving dime of white foam that settles to a thin ring, no lace, and a few patches of bubbles on the surface. Murky raisin brown color.

S - Candi sugar, raisins and other dark fruits, burnt sugars, and a heavy dose of grape juice (not vinous, just juice). There's a bit of smoke and tobacco character in the periphery, and thankfully little in the way of spice.

T - Tastes like a bigger beer - I would guess quad after my initial sips. Lots of burnt sugars, grape and dark fruits, a touch of chocolate, and a hint of licorice. Somewhat cloying after awhile. The New Zealand hops mentioned on the bottle are long gone.

M - The surprisingly high carbonation reminds me this is a dubbel. Medium-full body, sticky finish.

D - I think I ended up drinking most of this bottle, as no one else was interested. I finished the 500ml, but it was a struggle near the end. I don't see any need to revisit this one.